A little while ago as Emily & me one stormy night were going through the wood which leads to school we saw by the light of the moon which just then broke through a cloud the flashing of some bright substance, the moon then became obscured & we could discern nothing more but see very black cloud. we heard a well known voice saying “0 Arthur I wish we had never come! what will my father say if he ever gets to know of it? & I am begining to get very cold for it rains fast and the wind is highf “wrap your fur cloak closer round you Charles & let us lean against this old tree for I shall not be able to stand much longer without some suportf. the sky is quite covered with dark clouds & how dismaly the wind is moaning among the trees.” “Athur what was that noise I heard? listenf “it is a raven Charles I am not much given to superstition but I remember hearing my grandmother say it is a sign that something bad is comeing to pass.f “if we were to die here tonight & remember Athur we came here by apointment of two of our worst enemies what would my mother do & my father - “ here they both sobbed aloud & we likewise heard a strange & horrible noise sweep through the wood. “what is the matter with our dogs Arthurf? are they dying?”
“no Charles but that likewise is said to be a sound of death “ “a sound of death Arthur! but listen again to the raven O! this is a dreadful place.f’
“Hush Charles! they are coming.”
the glimmering of a lantern appeared through the trees and two men burst upon the path. one of them was tall & bony but he had an expression of pity in his face as he said “poor fellows! Though I dont particularly like you yet I’m sorry you’ve had to wait so long in the rain this cold night - “ the other was a mean despicable wretch & he squinted . “prince Leopold & Sir gfeorge I — I ill we are quite ready to follow you but go slowly for we cannot possibly walk fastf’ “come along then.f so saying they set off & we followed closfe behind . by the light of the lantern we could see that the Marquis of Douro & Lord Charles Wellesley had 2 bloodhound’s with them & as soon as they imerged from the forest these 2 dogs gave a dreadful yell . Prince Lfeopold shook with terror & Charles patted them at which they moaned piteously. after this they were silent for awhile & the march proceededf. after climbing a great many high steep rocks & leaping many ditches we entred on the confines of the great moor. just then the bloodhound’s stopped again & gave another horrible cry which rang all over the wide heath & seemed to be answered from a great distance with a deeper & more dreadful yell.
“do make your nasty dogs hold their tongues or else I will” said Sir Gfeorge “if you touch them Hill you must take the consequences” answered Arthur “they might bite you”
Leopold was panting with fear.
“come on boy’s “ shouted Sir George with a peal of hollow laughter which was answered by the echoing rocks with tenfold vehemence. just at that moment a dull flapping of wings & an ominous croak was heard .
“what in the name of wonder is that?”
“jit’s a ravenlf replied Leopold almost fainting with cowardice. f”0! do make haste that we may reach some shelter for the darkness of the night is increasing the rain is falling faster & the wind sweeps with more fearful blast over this wild bleak moorf they all moved on & after a while a light became visible on the verge of the horizon which as they approached it vanished but by the help of the lantern we could discern a small & seemingly deserted cottagef. they entred it & we followed by a door which was decayed by time & shattered by violence in many places.
“& is this where you intend to take us?” exclaimed the Marquis of Dfouro.
f”Oh no but as you seem unable to go any father I thought you had better stop here & very likely we shall find some of our freind’s below said Sfir Gfeorge as he opened a door which discovered a narrow flight of steps down which they went & then came to another door & now likewise they heard a sound of many voices & much mirth . Sir G eorge opened the door & imediatly a blaze of light & genial warmth burst forth which almost overpowered them after being so long exposed to the dark wet night. the cellar into which they came was vaulted & the lime dropping of the wall in many parts, there was a large peat fire blazing on the hearth & on benches round sat a great many officers among whom was the Marquis of A Lords CAW & G P.u some where drinking some playing at card’s singing & yet. as soon as the marquis of Douro & Lord Charles Wfellesley saw these things they exclaimed “we will go no father & though we die for it we had rather stop all night on the open moor than in this wicked place & if you prevent us from going hence it will be at your peril.”
“will it?” said Leopold with a shrill scornful laughf.
they called their dog’s which however did not make their appear-ancef. Leopold then rushed toward’s them threw them down & gaged them & tied their hand’s & feet then returning to the party round the fire he began to play sing and be as loud & talkative as any among them, but in the midst of all this mirth & cheerfulness the sound of footsteps was heard descending the stairs the door was burst open & 2 men followd by 3 large dogs burst into the apartmentf. one of the men was instantly known by his stern countenance & flashing eye as he exclaimed with feirce energy “you wretches where are my son’s.?” it was the. DUKE OF WELLINGTON, they where too much astounded to reply till he repeated the question more feircely than before & commanded them to give him an answer. Leopold replied tremblingly “they are there.”
“they are! you vile beggarf said his Grace & kicked him to the opposite end of the cellar then going to the corner which Lfeopold had pointed to he unbound & ungaged his sons & raised them up. they were however unable to stand & fell back againf. his Grace then turned to the rest & said in a tone of voice which showed he meant to be obeyed, “I command you all to quit this place & if ever you return here again I shall make you suffer for it & that dreadfully.”
imediatly they flung open the door rushed up the stair & scampered of as fast as they could. In the meantime the other man who was Doctor Hume had given Afrthur & Charles something which strengthened them so much that they could stand & even walk. the Duke then inquired how they came to that house, just at this moment we issued from our hiding place & related all the circumstances after which we asked how his Grace got to know of Charles & Arthur being theref. His Grace told us that as he was on his way to sfchool accompanied by Hume & his great Bloodhound he thought he heard at a distance the yelling of his sons dogs which was imediatly answered by his own and that after he had gone about a mile father he met a countryman who told him that he had seen his sons on the Great moor in the company of George Hill & Prince Leopold that then though it was night he rode towards the moor but was met on his way by his sons dogs who led them to the cottage.
as soon as his Grace had finished he rose to depart & Afrthur &
Charles followed. when they had got up the dark narrow stairs and to the door of the cottage they were surprised to find the rising sun beaming through the chinks of the door & when they reached the open air the scenes which greeted their eyes were truly refreshing. instead of dark watery clouds there was the blue radiant dome like sky in which the pale moon was yet visible. the glorious sun was rising in the east & making the rain which had fallen the preceding night and which still remained on the balmy heath to sparkle like fine diamond’s. a few little wild mountain sheep were to be seen & as they drew near they scurried? away & sprang up the rocks till they could view us safely at a distance^ the lark sprang from his mossy bed at our approach and began to warble its matin song & the higher it mounted up in the blue heavens the sweeter did its song become till it could no longer be heard, in a short time they came to the edge of the moor & reached School about 9 oclock all sound in life & limb. thus ended the Duke’s Marquis’s & Lord’s adventure of the cottage
Charlotte Bronte June the 31 - 1829
SECOND VOLUME OF TALES OF THE ISLANDERS
CHAPTER